NB- This trip will not be doing the Cintsa night, but instead be 4 nights at Hole in the Wall.

As SA braces for winter, we’ll be escaping to the balmy wild coast to capture one of SA’s most iconic landscapes. Expect colourful sunrises, pleasant temperatures and evening braais with wine and crayfish.

Most folks are familiar with the great freestanding wall, but few realise that it’s surroundings are just as important. Hole in the Wall is situated in a river mouth and surrounded by a myriad of fantastic foregrounds that can keep any photographer indefinitely entertained. One can get a high vantage point from the hills, or one can head down and choose between pebbles, rock shelves, a flat reflective beach, forests or aloes as a foreground. Over 4 days we will get to know this landscape intimately while we capture it from various angles and in various conditions.

As we’ll be visiting close to winter solstice, the shooting hours will be easy - During our stay the sun will rise at 7am and set at 5pm, allowing enough time to rest between shoots.

Visiting at the right time of the year is a critical factor for a photographic trip to the wild coast. Summer months are too rainy and autumn too unpredictable. In winter the weather is a stable balance of sunny days mixed with cloud. Please continue to the respective sections below to read more about the transport, accommodation and catering arrangements for this workshop.

Itinerary

5 June |Arrive HITW| Sleep HITW

6 June | Photograph HITW | Sleep HITW

7 June |Photograph HITW|Sleep HITW

8 June |Photograph HITW| Sleep HITW

9 June | Depart HITW | End of Tour

Hole in the Wall

Welcome to Seascape Paradise

Photographic Highlights

Drones are Welcome!

You might have some curious locals who want to see the view from above, but you don't have to worry about the usual pissed off neighbour when flying your drone.

Endless Perspectives

Hole in the Wall can be photographed from countless angles using different foregrounds. You can shoot this location for weeks without getting bored.

Few Photographers

Due to it's remote location, Hole in the Wall remains one of SA's least photographed landscape icons.

Photography and Tutoring

During this course we will focus on capturing the best possible images and our time and energy will be prioritised towards being out in the field as opposed to sitting indoors doing presentations. While shooting, Hougaard, will be looking over your shoulder to answer any questions and help you out, whether it is a simple issue like which filter to use or a complex one like how to compose the scene. The small group size allows a lot of in-depth tuition tailored for each person's needs and skill level.

In spare time we will download, edit and review the images captured up until that point.

Difficulty Level

This is a photo tour, which means that our time and energy will be focused on shooting, exploring compositions and discussing the destination and images captured. You should have a decent amount of experience shooting landscapes and be 100% comfortable operating your camera in manual mode.

Do not expect presentations on technical basics like how to use manual mode or jpeg vs. RAW.

Need Basic Training?

Please check out our photo workshops, which are focused on giving you the necessary technical foundation to get started in landscape photography.

The Guide

Hougaard Malan

I first fell in love with the Wild Coast during family holidays in my school years. After school and with camera in hand, I returned on many occasions and explored most corners of this marvellous area of our country. While there are many other stunning landscapes along the Transkei coastline, Hole in the Wall still remains my favourite as it is the most photographically productive and the easiest to get to.

Accommodation

We stay in the best accommodation that HITW has to offer - three privately owned cottages that are literally on the beach.

Yip, G&T's will be consumed on that front deck.

4 Rooms Available

There are 4 Rooms available, two of which are ensuite. There is a R500 supplement for these on a first come, first serve basis.

We accept a max of 4 photographers, meaning everyone gets their own room.

Rustic, but Well Equipped

The cottages feature two kitchens with most things one needs to make anything from a sandwich to a cake. Each of the cottages have a lounge, deck and braai facility and will be serviced by cleaners daily. There is electricity and good cellphone reception.

5min Drive or 20min Walk

Our accommodation is a 5min drive or a 20min walk from HITW - you can choose how to get there.

We are well away from the hustle and bustle of fishermen and overland tours.

Getting There

Traveling to Hole in the Wall

For those unfamiliar with the Wild Coast it might seem like a daunting task to reach this destination, but it’s a lot easier nowadays than it used to be. You simply turn off the N2 just South of Mthata, follow the paved road for 80km to Coffee Bay and from there it’s a final stretch of about 8km on a good dirt road. For those who love driving and seeing South Africa, you can make a great trip of it from any direction.

A high-clearance vehicle is advisable for travelling to Hole in the Wall, but any car suitable for a dirt road can easily make it. You can come in sports car, but your bumper is probably going to suffer some damage.

Ride-Along Opportunity

There will be a ride-along opportunity from- and back to East London for three participants at a set fee. Please contact us on info@landscapetravel.co.za if you are interested in travelling with us.

Easiest Way to Get There

The easiest and fastest way to get to Hole in the Wall from anywhere in SA is to fly to East London and rent a car there. It is a 5-hour 300km drive. In order to do the grocery shopping and warm up the cameras, we fly in a day early and spend a night. This also buys us a sunrise shoot at Cintsa, which is one of SA's best seascape locations.

Food and Catering

Unfortunately, the cooking duties are too much for the guide and taking someone along to do the cooking is too expensive. Leaving everyone to look after themselves is too wasteful and unsociable.

Our tried and tested method is to supply all the food and split the cooking duties evenly amongst the participants. This way no one will have to spend too much time in the kitchen or break the bank on food.

The guide will do the braai work, while each participant will have a turn to make a brunch or sides for dinner. You are welcome to team up with someone to split the work. We will contact all participants in advance to discuss the food options and what grocery items are required for the meals they would like to make.

On the first day everyone can arrive at their convenience, but those who want to shoot sunset and explore the Cintsa rocks should be there by 3pm. After sunset we will go out for dinner in Cintsa and get a heads up on the days to come.

During the first shoot, the guide will assess the skill level of each participant in order to identify how best to help each person at their level.

Day 2 – Sunrise at Cintsa, Travel to HITW

On the 2nd day we will have to be on the rocks at Cintsa by 6am. After the shoot we'll have a quick breakfast, pack up and then hit the road to HITW. We should be there by about 2pm.

Day 3 +4 - Capture Hole in the Wall

During our two full days at HITW, the schedule will go roughly as follows, but we do chop and change things depending on what the weather is doing -

Sunrise Shoot: 06:00 - 08:00

During our stay the sun rises at 07:00. In ideal conditions we can start shooting from 06:00, which means coffee at 05:45. Our shoot will last until about 08:00 after which we’ll return to our accommodation.

Brunch: 09:00 - 10:30

After sunrise everyone will have time to shower and pack their gear away and we’ll sit down for a wholesome brunch so that everyone can just do a light lunch snack at their own convenience.

Editing Time: 10:30 - 12:00

This time will be dedicated to downloading, editing and image review.

Afternoon Break: 12:00 - 15:00

We will try to give the participants and the guide enough time each afternoon for a power nap or personal time.

Sunset Shoot & Dinner: 15:00 - 20:00

During our stay sunset is at 17:00, which means that we need to leave for our sunset shoot between 15:00 - 16:00 depending on the weather conditions. After sunset we’ll head back to our accommodation and get the braai going.

Star Shoot: 20:00 - 22:00

If we get a clear night, we’ll head out to the hill and shoot Hole in the wall with the milky way above.

Day 5 – End of Tour: One Last Sunrise

On our last morning everything will happen exactly as it did on the three days before - we’ll depart the hotel at 05:30, shoot sunrise one last time and have a final breakfast.

After breakfast everyone will say their final greetings and participants can then pack up and depart at their own leisure.

Packing List - Camera Gear

Camera Body - There was a time when we could simply say you need a Nikon or Canon DSLR, but times have changed. You need a camera, preferably digital, with manual mode. A full frame with good high ISO performance, Live View and Focus Peaking makes landscape photography much easier, but pretty much anything goes. Lenses - The most important lens is a wide angle. Hole in the Wall is extremely wide and fits just comfortably into a 16mm frame. If you want to shoot stars, then it will count in your favour to have a fast-aperture wide like f/2.8 or faster. The Sigma 20mm f/1.4 is a fantastic, affordable astro lens. You will also find a mid-range lens like a 24-70mm very useful. A telephoto lens is not a necessity, but you might find a use for it.

Backpack - We will be walking a lot, so it is critical to have a comfortable backpack to carry your gear in. We are big loyalists of f-stop gear, which is widely regarded as the world's best camera carry solution.

Tripod - Please make sure you have a solid tripod with an easy-to-operate head that reaches up to your eye height. We will be shooting amongst rocks and on slopes, where you will need some extra length. We recommend SIRUI or Gitzo.

L-Bracket - An L-Bracket is the simplest, greatest tool out there for landscape photographers. It makes portrait and pano shooting a dream. Get in touch to find out which model you need.

Filters - Hole in the Wall is a long exposure paradise and any seascape photography demands a comprehensive set of ND filters. Graduated filters will help, but they are not a necessity. We recommend a 0.6 and 0.9 Soft Grad. Ensure that you have a holder with an independently rotating polarizer like the NiSi V5 Pro system.

Cleaning - Be prepared for seaspray and high humidity, you'll need a few cloths handy to keep your filters and lenses clean in case the first cloth gets wet.

Packing List - Clothing and Accessories

Clothing

June at Hole in the Wall can throw anything at you from a warm summer day to a wet, windy winter day, so it's best to pack a balance of clothing. Temperatures are extremely unlikely to go below 10 degrees, so things like gloves and beanies probably won't be necessary.

Shoes

This is one of the most complicated subjects, but basically you need a pair of comfortable walking shoes as well as a pair of comfortable walking shoes that you don't mind getting wet. Gumboots don't work as they will normally fill with water whenever we do decide to get our feet wet. Water sandals, dive booties or an old pair of takkies work the best.

You don't have to worry too much about grip - the Arniston rocks have a very rough surface that provides excellent grip.

Headlamp

All our days will start and end with a short hike in the dark, so a headlamp is very important. Please ensure that you have a bright, modern headlamp with enough batteries. You become an instant liability to the group if you don't have a light source.

Laptop

As our time and energy will be focused on shooting and not editing, you do not have to bring a laptop along. We will however do some light editing and image review sessions, so it is useful to have.

The Fine Print

Please Read Thoroughly

Payment and Cancellation Terms

Payment

This tour is costed in RAND and that is thus the only constant price. All prices shown in other currencies are merely for your convenience and are subject to the fluctuation thereof. We do our best to update foreign currency prices regularly, but we advise that you do a calculation at the current exchange rate for an accurate price in your preferred currency.

In order to secure your spot on this tour, a deposit of R6500.00 / R7500.00 (depending on option) is required. This deposit can be paid via wire transfer, PayPal or credit card and it is non-refundable. Please note that your spot on the workshop is NOT confirmed until we have received the deposit payment.

Full Payment must be made 60 days prior to the start of the tour. We will send out a final invoice for the full amount to remind you of the due date in safe time. If we have not received your full payment 60 days prior to the start of the tour and you did not inform us of a valid reason for a late payment, Landscape Travel reserves the right to consider your booking as cancelled.

You will need to complete and sign a standard liability disclaimer in order to participate in this tour.

When booking within 60 days of the start of the tour, immediate full payment will be required to secure your spot.

If you have a valid reason for a late payment like being out of telecommunication or waiting for investments to be cashed out, please inform us.

Medical & Camera Insurance

We do not require participants to take out any insurance to participate in this tour/workshop.

Cancellation

The deposit is not refundable under any circumstance. When you book a spot on the tour, we make all the necessary bookings with all the third parties and pay their required deposit. Most of the deposits we pay are not refundable and thus we cannot refund your deposit. Whatever we still hold is used to defray the administrative work of changing all the bookings made on your behalf. The only exception will be if you can find a substitute to attend the workshop in your place.

If you need to cancel your participation once you have made full payment, a 75% refund (excluding deposit) will be given up to 30 days prior to the start of the tour.

Landscape Travel reserves the right to cancel the tour if it is necessary or advisable due to events such as outbreak of conflict, government intervention, expiry of concessions or access right or insufficient booking numbers being available. The operation of the tour is at the sole discretion of Landscape Travel, having in mind the welfare of all participants and the safe and prudent operation of the itinerary and program. In such a case all monies paid by participants for the tour, in holding by Landscape Travel, will be refunded to the participants. This excludes deposits or full payments made to 3rd parties involved in the tour like lodges, charter companies or travel agents.

Terms and Conditions

1. The client who signifies his acceptance of a booking does so on behalf of himself and persons under his authority, which means that all are bound by the terms and conditions of Landscape Travel as if they had made the application themselves.

2. Landscape Travel - HM Landscape Photography (PTY) LTD trading as Landscape Travel is a company registered in South Africa with sole director CH Malan. Landscape Travel guides participants on the tour advertised in this document.

3. Payment Terms

This tour will start on the date stipulated in the product title and again repeated under the section 'Itinerary', listed below the introductory paragraph for the product. The cost is R13 000 without the Cintsa night and R15 000 with the Cintsa night.

The cost for a non-photographic participant/friend/spouse is R9500.00 (with Cintsa) or R7500 (Without Cintsa) and such a person has to share a room with a photographic participant.

This tour is costed in RAND and that is thus the only constant price. All prices shown in other currencies are subject to the fluctuation thereof. We do our best to update foreign currency prices regularly, but we advise that you do a calculation at the current exchange rate for an accurate price in your preferred currency.

As stipulated in the payment and cancellation terms, a non-refundable deposit of R6500 (without Cintsa) or R7500 (with Cintsa) is payable when booking.

A final payment of R6500 (without Cintsa) or R7500 (with Cintsa) will be payable 60 days prior to the start of the tour.

4. Included in the Tour

Single Occupancy Accommodation in a room at Kamnandi Cottages.

Meals and Drinks as stipulated on page under the 'food and catering' section.

Continuous assistance with your photography and image processing by the guide.

A highly experienced tour leader with great knowledge and experience of landscape photography and the destination.

5. Not Included in the Tour

Lunches

Transport to and from Hole in the Wall

Transport at Hole in the Wall

Non-meal-time snacks and drinks

Optional activities not indicated as included above.

Alcoholic beverages

Travel visas and associated costs, if applicable

Expenses of a personal nature, not speci cally included above.

Credit card surcharges

Guarantee of any speci c weather conditions. We always do our absolute best to make sure we visit

a destination in the ideal season and this tour is planned in hope of windless days with good sunsets and sunrises.

6. Health Considerations

This photo tour is designed to be within the capabilities of average people in good health. Some of the time participants may be required to walk over uneven terrain or trails, stepping into and out of high super Jeep type vehicles and occasionally hiking. All with a load of sometimes heavy camera equipment. If you have concerns about your own capabilities and/or tness as it relates to this photo tour, please contact us to clarify any uncertainties.

By paying the initial non-refundable deposit, you warrant that, to the best of your knowledge you do not have any physical or other disability that would create a risk for you or other participants.

CapturEarth assumes no responsibility for medical care. We will advise the lodges/hotels of any dietary requirements or restrictions for individual participants, if su cient notice is provided, but we do not assume responsibility for the delivery of such special dietary requirements.

If you sustain an injury or become ill on the photo tour, CapturEarth reserves the right to continue the photo tour for the bene t of other participants. CapturEarth will make every e ort to assist you while at the same time trying to minimize interruption to the photo tour.

CapturEarth reserves the absolute discretion, in the event of behaviour detrimental to other participants, to decline any person’s participation at any time during the photo tour and cancel that person’s participation in the photo tour, in which case any refund will be on a recoverable cost basis only.

7. Liability

CapturEarth does not accept any liability of whatever nature, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, for the acts, omissions or default, whether negligent or otherwise, of third party providers. To the fullest extent permitted by law, CapturEarth disclaims liability in contract, tort or otherwise for any injury, damage, loss (including consequential loss), delay, additional expense or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by force majeure or any other event which is not preventable by reasonable diligence on the part of CapturEarth.